Massachusetts recently launched a free telehealth program to assess Covid-19 patients' eligibility for Paxlovid, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Oregon.

• Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in a partnership with Color Health, on May 4 launched a free telehealth program to assess Covid-19 patients' eligibility for Pfizer's Covid-19 antiviral Paxlovid. Under the program, residents 18 and older who test positive for the virus with mild to moderate symptoms are eligible for free consultations to assess whether they are candidates for the drug. "This treatment must be started within five days of symptoms, so it is essential to speak with a clinician right away," said Larry Madoff, medical director of the bureau of infectious disease and laboratory sciences for the Massachusetts health department. Once a patient is deemed eligible, the program will send a prescription to a nearby pharmacy or ship the drug directly to the patient's house. (Bruce, Becker's Hospital Review, 5/13)

• Nebraska: Brodstone Healthcare appointed Crystal Wyatt as its new CFO. Wyatt, who joined the single hospital system in 2014, has been serving as Brodstone's interim CFO since the beginning of 2022. "We are very excited for Crystal to move into the CFO role permanently," said Treg Vyzourek, Brodstone Healthcare CEO. "She has grown exponentially during her career at Brodstone and has the history and expertise to excel. I am excited to work closely with her and the rest of our senior leadership team to maintain our upward trajectory." (Paavola, Becker's Hospital Review, 5/13)

• Oregon: Bay Area Hospital on Friday appointed Larry Butler Jr. as its new COO. Butler, who most recently served as senior director of ancillary services for Mercy San Juan Medical Center, brings more than two decades of hospital and health care experience to the role. Notably, Mercy San Juan is part of CommonSpirit Health, the health system created by the 2019 merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives. (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 5/13)